ADBA Scottish National Conference Programme

There are now over 50 AD plants in operation across Scotland, converting a range of wastes and purpose-grown energy crops into renewable heat and power, clean transport fuel, and nutrient-rich biofertiliser. With huge scope for growth in the Scottish AD industry and policymakers looking for solutions to key policy challenges, Charlotte will set out how AD can help Scotland meet its energy, waste, transport, and farming needs.

Jess will provide an update on the progress of the recently launched AD Certification Scheme and explain how operators can get involved. She will be joined by Carl Gurney from Jelf Insurance Brokers, who will give an insight into the insurance benefits that participating operators can access.

10.15-10.30 – Food waste AD capacity
Scotland is ahead of the rest of the UK when it comes to food waste collection and treatment, but how is the Scottish AD community preparing for January 2021? A year after our first conference, are we more confident that sufficient AD capacity will be in place?

10.30-11.00 – Brexit and investments
With just over a year left before our EU divorce, what is the outlook for the future investments necessary to continue growing the AD industry? Will the government take the opportunity to support this industry to its full potential? And will other sources of investment play a role?

11.30-12.30 – Digestate usage and commercialisation
From the lack of enforcement of food waste segregation regulations, which means that feedstock going to AD plants can be of poor quality, to wrong usage of digestate which can sometimes be spread on farmland at inappropriate times or in excessive amounts, there is still a lot of work to be done in order to ensure that digestate meets quality standards, and is used properly. But even when this is the case, what is the best way to transform it into a valuable and saleable product?

13.30-14.30 – How to make small-scale AD work
Scotland has many small distilleries, breweries, farms, food manufacturers, restaurants and other businesses that could greatly benefit from AD, but how can we make AD accessible to and affordable for small businesses? This panel will discuss planning issues and how recently developed small-scale AD and modular solutions could be the answer.

14.30-15.30 – What is the best use for biogas in Scotland?
Scotland’s AD industry is currently concentrating on electricity, but what other opportunities are there?
Biogas is also successfully being used for transport, district heating and grid injection. This panel will look at case studies, trying to understand the benefits, barriers, reasoning and finances behind these different applications.

16.00-17.00 – Food security and land use
Could the rise of AD plants put food security at risk, as the draff from distilleries that was traditionally used as animal feed is now diverted to AD plants? Is too much land being used for energy crops, taking it away from food production? The panellists will discuss how the farming and AD communities can operate in synergy.